I was 9 years old. My father was stationed at Kincheloe AFB in Kinross, MI just south of Sault Ste. Marie. As military vagabonds, my parents had to rely on locals to watch my older brother and I if they needed or wanted to go somewhere that we could not. It was 1970.

Jim, was a local airmen who volunteered his services as a sitter. Mom and dad had hired more than one over the course of our six years there. Jim no more often that the other two guys who used to watch us if my parents where Christmas shopping or going out to eat, or watching a movie. But Jim took a "special" interest in me. He would at times show up unannounced at my baseball games or drop by the house. I assume he left my brother alone because he was older by 5 years and more likely to tell my parents. Who really knows.

Eventually, I told my parents what was happening. Thank God they believed me. Shortly after, Jim was ushered out of the Air Force. I have no idea what happened to him. I have no idea how many other victims he left at Kincheloe. At one point, he was let back on base by accident and he came to our house and tried to take me to baseball practice. My dad met him with a deer rifle in hand.

My real point here is not so much to share the story, as it is to try to explain the different ways people react to these situations. I never felt traumatized. I have led a very normal and productive life, free from demons. I can't say how I would have reacted had my parents believed Jim instead of me. If the abuse had been allowed to continue and worsen. I hope Jim has long ago been locked away, but I don't really know. I can't imagine he ever stopped, unless forced to. I have had conversations with my parents about it. I do not blame them. They were doing the best they could in akward/difficult situations during a time when this kind of behavior was nealry always hidden away.

So please, when you read about all these people who's reactions run the gamut of emotion, I hope this helps you to try to understand. Different people react differently.

According to a memo from the AAPD to the Liquor License Review Committee, the PD is recommending that Scorekeepers' liquor license not be be renewed. Police had to make 156 visits in 2017. Could be a sad day for many on this board, as that would surely put the place out of business.

I am putting in a link to a long interview article with Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to go public with charges about Dr. Larry Nassar. I labeled this "OT" because the article comes from Christianity Today, and digs much deeper into Denhollander's perspective as an articulate Christian. Please truly view this as OT, and read something else. Unless you are really interested in the whole topic, as I am.

This is an excellent article looking at the relationship of justice to forgiveness. It is written from a Christian perspective, and highlights the failure of many churches to do well with such charges when they happen in their own church. Many of you know I am a Christian. I appreciate the bright light Denhollander applies to the church. It is needed. For those readers who believe differently, truly feel free to neg away and mock and ridicule. The reality is this mockery is often deserved, including towards me.

However, there is also relevance to how the Univ. of Michigan deals with things. It is always easier to be outraged when things are happening elsewhere, and not to your own organization.

That leaves me with the question: What happens when it’s a trusted person [in their own organization?] What happens when it’s a trusted person in [related organizations?] The extent that one is willing to speak out against their own community is the bright line test for how much they care and how much they understand.

This is why Brian's front page posts/articles about Michigan are so critical. We can and should criticize PSU and MSU. But we also have to shine as bright a light as possible internally at Michigan. I hope that this tragedy helps administrators at Michigan shine that light brightly in our own community.

I hope this tragedy continues to be taken very seriously. Denhollander writes

The damage never has to be anywhere near as extensive as it gets. Never. The research has shown that the average pedophile is reported approximately seven times before he’s finally caught. The average number of victims a pedophile has is about 250. We don’t need to get there. We never needed to get there.

I especially appreciated the nuance Denhollander brings to discussions of punishment, accountability, justice, and forgiveness. Too often, forgiveness is cheap. She adds,

Repentance is a full and complete acknowledgment of the depravity of what someone has done in comparison with God’s holy standard. And I do believe that entails an acknowledgment of that, and a going in the opposite direction. It means you have repented to those you have harmed and seek to restore those you have hurt.

One last thing. Yes, there needs to be justice, and punishment. But there also needs to be wisdom, and compassion. This morning, I heard from my daughter. She was sexually harassed by the Command Master Chief on her ship in the Navy. (thankfully never raped or abused.) The CMC was court martialed, and was separated from the Navy in the Fall. Yesterday evening, his wife came home to find he had hung himself. That is also a tragedy, which I wish never would have happened. So sad.

I believe Nassar's punishment is just. But I still don't want to see him tortured, or abused, or brought to suicide. Better for him to spend the rest of his days reflecting on his choices. And hopefully, truly repenting.

paid for by MSU honk Peter Secchia.
A story in the Free Press (my apologies) says Secchia and Meijer were the lead sponsors of a dinner and roast for William Forsyth.
State Attorney General Bill Schuette named Forsyth the lead, independent investigator into the case at Michigan State and how they handled Nassar.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/2018/01/30/spartan-booster-peter-secchi...
That humming sound you hear are the shredders hard at work in East Lansing..